Fish Catching Travel
No matter how often you fish, or how good or bad you are at it, sooner or later it will happen, you won’t do worth a crap. Usually the fish are not the only ones to blame, and today several things combined to make it a less than successful trip.
My good friend was injured in a motorcycle accident several weeks ago and has been mostly housebound since. He has been dying to get out on the water. So I came up with the perfect plan, go to the Lavaca River and troll for trout. All he would have to do is sit there and crank them in. And it is something I actually wanted to spend a little time doing. Great plan huh? Not so much.
You would think after my last couple of posts if anyone would know that was a terrible idea it would be me. With fish coming from deep water, using baits slow, you might figure I would know trolling would not be the tactic of choice. So with head up you know where it was off to the river.
We trolled down the river, up the river, up the Navidad, and everywhere in between. It became pretty apparent this was a bad idea. Though at times there were fish covering the locator, not a bite. Jigs, spoons, and crankbaits all got a chance. Finally it dawned on me, I stuck my hand in the river, and immediately knew it was a bad idea, it was way to cold.
So we decided to throw plastics, and though I caught one and missed 3 in the first place, he just could not fish. Recovering from a couple of compressed vertebrae in his back, along with a fractured collar-bone and orbit, it was just to much pressure holding the rod out. He watched me as I hit a couple of more places, where I managed to miss one, and with that total lack of success we called it a day. The trolling thing will work in the river, but it needs to be done before the water gets down below 60 degrees. So I will not give up on it, it is something that needs to be done in November before the big fronts hit us and cool that water off. But that is not the complete story for the day.
Right before we quit I did something I have not done in probably 10 years, I tossed a rod and reel in the river. It was crazy. I made a cast, got a backlash, and propelled the rod and reel into the river like a shot. It did not sink, it went in like an arrow and was gone in a second. Oh well, I was due. So at that point with him being uncomfortable it was time to call it a short trip and head back to his Dad’s house.
I was going to treat his family to a fish fry, good thing I already had the fish or that would have been out the window. I fried hushpuppies and fish for everyone in his family, including his 94 year old grandfather. That old man ate fish like there was no tomorrow, he loves his fish. The day was not a total loss by any means, good friends and good food makes up for a lot.
Arkansas Fish
I did want to show you this picture my friend Clyde sent me from Arkansas. Highland lakes like Bull Shoals and Norfork have great crappie fishing in the winter, and every once in a while you get a bonus fish. He was fishing 6lb. line and a Road Runner crappie jig when he got a big bite.
A nice Arkansas Hybrid.
The addition of the hybrid and regular striper worked out great on those highland lakes. They occupied space not used by other fish, and provided a year round fishing opportunity. At the time of stocking there were voices claiming they would eat all the bass, ruin fishing, etc, etc. Of course that has not proven to be true. Not only is it not true, they are great fish to catch. Over the years we caught lots of them up to 30lbs. on topwater, downriggers, and live bait. They proved to be a great thing for the guides, and I was happy to fish for them with customers. If you have ever guided you know the pressure that comes with that, fish in the boat is the only acceptable result, no matter what. The old we had a great day thing is really B.S., people hire you to catch fish. The stripers provided a fairly reliable big fish. If you had 2 fishermen with you for the day, and you got them on a couple of big fish, everyone was happy.
It was a beautiful day and we still had fun. This weather sure beats what we have had the last couple of weeks. Tomorrow is a new day and I will definitely be on the water. Tomorrow it looks like it will be almost 80 and it will be off to the water somewhere. So thanks for reading my stuff.
Good Luck and Tight Lines
